10 August 2022

MEDIA RELEASE

First Credit Union makes $50,000 donation to local foodbanks

First Credit Union (FCU) today announced that they are donating $50,000 to local foodbanks surrounding their branches.

General Manager, Simon Scott, said that the donation is FCU’s way of further giving back to the local communities that support FCU.

“It’s no secret that people are doing it tough right now, with the ever-increasing cost of living and kids in poverty increasing over the last few years.

Additionally, the changes the government made to the lending laws (which covered all lending, not just mortgage lending which often gets overlooked in media commentary) have had unintended consequences resulting in First being unable to help some people over short-term hurdles because of the inflexible nature of the regulations. FCU has always prided itself on personal loans with NO application fee, and an average interest rate of 12%.

“We know first-hand from our members just how tough things are. Making this donation allows FCU to directly support our local communities.”

Simon said “It’s really about our core philosophy of ‘people helping people’, that FCU’s Board, Management and Staff live and breathe on a daily basis.”

The $50,000 donation will be disbursed to foodbanks in Hamilton, Te Aroha, Tauranga, Whakatane, Kawerau, Taupo, Rotorua and Ngaruawahia- the areas that FCU has branches.

On FCU’s behalf the foodbanks will be able to ensure that food items are going directly to vulnerable individuals and families to assist in getting on top of their living costs.